A small tribute to the phenomenal Irish talent we have.
After a superb 2018, it’s fitting that Johnny Sexton picked up the RTÉ Sportsperson of the Year award and unlike the last personal accolade that the Leinster and Ireland star won, he was actually able to give a speech!
Of course, Sexton’s superb season culminated in that famous win over the All Blacks in Dublin but aside from achieving a famous double with Leinster, the No. 10 was instrumental in Ireland’s Grand Slam success and series win over Australia.
That dramatic drop goal in Paris seems an awful long time ago, doesn’t it?
A truly deserving winner.
“I feel a bit bad accepting individual awards as a No. 10. You’re meant to be the guy that sits in the background and help control the team. I don’t think you should be getting individual awards because it’s the other guys that make you look good,” said Sexton.
Johnny Sexton ends a perfect year with another trophy – He is the #rtesportawards Sportsperson of the Year 2018 pic.twitter.com/SfV1F7OHa3
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 15, 2018
Elsewhere, the highly-coveted RTÉ Sport Team of the Year Award went to the Irish women’s hockey team after their incredible World Cup silver-medal winning exploits this summer.
Given the incredible achievements of the likes of Leinster, the Irish national rugby team, Dundalk, Dublin’s four-in-a-row, and Limerick’s stunning exploits throughout the hurling championship, that’s some honour to receive.
On that note, it’s fitting that their head coach Graham Shaw was also named RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year.
Ireland's hockey World Cup finalists – Your Team of the Year #rtesportawards pic.twitter.com/2qF0mi4ixO
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 15, 2018
Rhys McClenaghan, the first ever Irish gymnast to claim a European gymnastics medal by winning gold on the pommel horse in Glasgow, was named RTÉ Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year.
For football fans, the memories of Ray Houghton’s famous goal in Stuttgart and New Jersey will live long in the memory.
We’ll never get tired of hearing Mick Byrne say “We’ll do them (England) for you’s today!” to the Irish supporters as he made his way into the changing room.
Take a look at some famous football moments.
Congratulations to everyone that was nominated for an award because every single athlete helped contribute towards a truly magnificent year for Irish sport.
Who put the ball in the English net? – Ray Houghton is presented with the Hall of Fame award by former Republic of Ireland team-mate Mick McCarthy. #rtesportawards pic.twitter.com/4LTq9I9uhC
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 15, 2018
